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Latin America & the Caribbean

Medicine Elective Placements in Togo

Role: To gain experience from local staff and add to your previous medical training

Requirements: You must speak French to an intermediate level. You must be currently studying at university for a degree in Medicine. If you are not an elective student please go to our standard Medicine project in Togo page

Type of placements: Hospitals, clinics and HIV/AIDS centres

Accommodation: Host family

Price: From

What’s included? Qualified supervisor, food, accommodation, transfers to and from our specified airport, transport to and from work where required, insurance, personal webpage, induction and orientation, 24/7 support

What’s not included? Flights, visa costs, spending money

Length of placement: From 2 weeks

Start dates: Flexible

Medical placements for students wishing to take their electives in Togo are within hospitals, clinics and HIV/AIDS centres located in the Togolese capital of Lomé. The placements are well-equipped by local standards. You will have the opportunity to witness a wide variety of treatments, and you can provide much-needed support to patients.

The hospitals and clinics where we work provide an excellent backdrop for learning and improving your medical skills. You will find yourself coming into contact with conditions that you would not normally see in Europe or North America, including malaria and typhoid, on an almost daily basis.

Projects Abroad have years of experience co-ordinating elective students overseas. Our in-country staff are able to assist with any pre-departure queries and paperwork, and can liaise with your university to make sure your objectives for your elective can be met at your allocated placement. In Togo you will have a dedicated supervisor who is a qualified doctor. They will ensure your time in their medical facility is worthwhile and will be on hand to discuss specific case studies with you.

Your Role in Togo

Your role will be that of an intern. You will find the medical profession is very different to what you are used to. As such, you will spend a minimum of a week observing. As you get familiar with treatments and the way things are done in Togo, and if you have demonstrated a good knowledge of medicine, you may be given more to do.

Students on all medical related projects in Togo need a good level of French. Most of the staff and patients do not speak English and it is vital that you can understand and communicate in French while you are working in the hospital.

While in Togo, you will stay with one of our local host families. You will be able to meet and socialise with other Projects Abroad volunteers and explore what the local area has to offer with them.

You can join the Medicine Electives project in Togo for two or three weeks if you don't have time to join us for four weeks or more. These projects have been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term stay, for both the placement and the Elective student. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the hospital or centre please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone joining the project for a longer period.

Please be aware that most universities have deadlines by which time your Elective application paperwork must be completed. If your university needs information on the hospital or clinic in which you will be placed, or requires forms to be signed by your project supervisor, we strongly advise completing our application form at least one month before this deadline. We can only provide this detailed information once you have applied and been accepted onto an Elective placement with us.

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